Search

The paper investigates the effect of plasma treatment of basalt fiber on its hydrophilic behavior, which was estimated by contact angle. The pre-chopped basalt fiber was put in a soft polyethylene container to prevent fiber particles from being carried away by a flow of plasma gas, and to protect outlet gas ducts against clogging. It was evaluated what effect the plasma modification had on the strength properties of BST V40 P2 concrete. As the treatment time increases the contact angle becomes higher until treatment time reaches 10 minutes. The contact angle-treatment power dependence passes through a maximum. The highest value has been observed at a treatment power of 0.6 kW both on the day of treatment and after a 5-day rest period. The wettability of basalt fiber after 5 days of exposure after the first wetting leads to lower results, but remains at a fairly high level. The retreatment after a 5-day curing period yields lower results, but the level remains sufficiently high. The highest contact angle has been observed at a treatment power of 0.6 kW, gas flow rate (G) of 0.04 g/s, chamber pressure (P) of 20 Pa, with air/argon mixture (1:1) as plasma gas. Were tested samples of concrete BST V 40 P 2 with the addition of plasma-treated basalt fiber in the amount of 0.5 and 3% of the mass. on the strength index under two modes of basalt fiber processing: in mode 1 the treatment time was 10 minutes, the treatment power was 1.5 kW; and in mode 2 the treatment time was 5 minutes, the treatment power was 0.6 kW, with the addition of plasma treated basalt fiber (0.5 and 3 mass percent). It was found that the plasma treatment of basalt fiber before chopping gave concrete a higher strength than plasma treatment followed by chopping. Concrete has the highest strength when basalt fiber (3 mass percent) is subjected to plasma treatment in mode 2. Furthermore, the strength increased by 23 mass percent in comparison with the reference sample.

The use of basalt fiber as a reinforcing filler is mainly used instead of glass fibers due to its unique properties. Basalt fiber in comparison with glass has a 10-22% greater modulus, higher absolute strength after exposure to 400 °C, superior to glass in alkali and especially acid resistance, approximately identical in water resistance, i.e. close in properties to high-modulus glass fibers. However, it is most often used as a filler for concrete and other building structures. There is much less information about its use as a polymer reinforcing filler. The polymer matrix for creating polymer composite materials is most often epoxy resins, less often polyester. At the same time, there is practically no data on polyurethanes that have a unique combination of high strength indicators with elasticity and hardness, resistance to solvents and aggressive media, abrasion resistance, etc. The use of basalt fiber as a filler that increases the strength characteristics of polyurethanes and gives them specific properties can significantly expand the scope of their application. In this regard, this study attempts to use crushed basalt fiber as a reinforcing filler for polyurethanes. In order to increase the adhesion of the polymer matrix – filler system, an adhesive based on water-based polyurethane dispersion is used. Samples were obtained based on a polyurethane binder filled with basalt fiber in amounts up to 10.0 % by weight, treated with water-polyurethane dispersion with a concentration of 10 to 20 % by weight. The best complex of strength properties is provided by polyurethanes filled with basalt fiber in the amount of 1.0% by weight, treated with 15 % by weight water-based polyurethane dispersion. At the same time, the tensile strength increased by 15% compared to the same filling without processing and by 50% compared to the unfilled analog and amounted to 33.7 MPa. These changes are explained by a more uniform distribution of crushed basalt fiber in the polymer matrix and an increase in the adhesion interaction of fiber-adhesive-polymer matrix due to the biphilicity of the adhesive, as well as the same (polyurethane) nature of the adhesive and the matrix. The developed polymer composite materials have high hydrolytic resistance, as well as resistance to acetone and hexane. At the same time, the greatest degree of swelling did not exceed 0.9 % of the mass.

The paper investigates the effect of plasma treatment of basalt fiber on its wettability, which is determined by the ability to absorb water. As the treatment time increases the wettability becomes higher, up to 10 minutes. The wettability-treatment power dependence passes through a maximum. The highest value is observed at a treatment power of 0.6 kW both on the day of treatment and after a 5-day rest period. A further growth in power not only does not increase this value, but in fact decreases it. The retreatment after a 5-day curing period yields lower results, but remains sufficiently high. The highest wettability is observed at a treatment power of 0.6 kW, gas flow rate of 0.04 g/s, chamber pressure of 20 Pa, air/argon mixture (1:1) as plasma support gas. The strength of concrete specimens BST V40 P2 was tested with two treatment modes: in mode 1 the treatment time was 10 minutes, the treatment power was 1.5 kW; and in mode 2 the treatment time was 5 minutes, the treatment power was 0.6 kW, with the addition of plasma treated basalt fiber (0.5 and 3 mass percent). Concrete has the highest strength when basalt fiber (3 mass percent) is subjected to plasma treatment in mode 2. In addition, the strength increases by 18 mass percent in comparison with the reference.